Class : _______ Name: ____________________________ ( ) Date: ______________

Biology Test: Chapter 10 (Transpiration, transport and support in plants)

plants)

Time allowed : 30 minutes Total marks: 30

Multiple-choice questions
A
(10 marks, 1 mark each)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 In temperate regions, the leaves of deciduous trees fall off in autumn and start to grow again in the
following spring. During the winter, transpiration of these trees takes place mainly through
A the stomata of leaves.
B the cuticle on leaves.
C the lenticels on stems.
D the epidermis of roots.

2 The table below shows the distribution of stomata on the leaves of four different plants.

Stomatal density (number per mm2)

Plant
Upper surface Lower surface
(1) 0 0
(2) 0 168
(3) 132 0
(4) 12 143

Which of the plants does/do not have cuticle on the lower surface of the leaves?
A (1) only
B (1) and (2) only
C (1) and (3) only
D (2) and (4) only

3 Which of the following is/are not necessary for the transport of water up the xylem?
A a well developed root system

-1-
Chapter Test 10　Transpiration, transport and support in plants

B continuous xylem vessels

C water potential gradient between the cells in leaves
D concentration gradient of water vapour between the air spaces in leaves and the atmosphere
Directions: Questions 4 and 5 refer to the photomicrograph below, which shows part of the cross section
of the stem of a herbaceous plant.

4 Support to the plant is mainly provided by which of the cell types?

A W only
B Z only
C W and Y only
D X and Z only

5 Some insects can insert their mouthparts into cell type Y and feed on the liquid transported in it. This
liquid contains
(1) organic nutrients.
(2) mineral ions.
(3) water.
A (1) only B (2) only
C (1) and (3) only D (2) and (3) only

-2-
Chapter Test 10　Transpiration, transport and support in plants

6 The diagram below shows four leafy shoots taken from a terrestrial plant. One or two surfaces of all
the leaves in some of the shoots are covered with vaseline . The leafy shoots are then left in a
room.

After 3 hours, which of the following is most likely the correct comparison of the heights of the
water levels in the measuring cylinders?
A (3) < (1) < (2) < (4) B (3) < (2) < (1) < (4)
C (4) < (1) < (2) < (3) D (4) < (2) < (1) < (3)

7 The woody plant below is kept in bright light and one of its leaves is supplied with radioactive
carbon 14C in the form of carbon dioxide.

Blocking which of the following structures could prevent 14C from reaching the bud?
A sieve tubes at position X B xylem vessels at position X

-3-
Chapter Test 10　Transpiration, transport and support in plants

C sieve tubes at position Y D xylem vessels at position Y

8 The graph below shows the change in the rate of uptake of potassium ions by the roots of a plant
when it is grown in soil with increasing concentration of potassium ions. A poison which stops
respiration is added to the soil at the point shown.

After the poison is added to the soil, the root

A absorbs potassium ions by active transport only.
B absorbs potassium ions by diffusion only.
C absorbs potassium ions by active transport and diffusion.
D does not absorb any potassium ions.

9 The diagram below shows the cross section of the root of a dicotyledonous plant.

-4-
Chapter Test 10　Transpiration, transport and support in plants

Which region contains cells with the thickest cell walls?

A W B X
C Y D Z

-5-
Chapter Test 10　Transpiration, transport and support in plants

10 Which of the following is not an adaptation of root hair cells for the absorption of water?
A thin cell wall
B no waxy cuticle
C numerous mitochondria
D long and fine extension of cell

Conventional questions
B
(20 marks)

1 The diagram below shows an apparatus used to study water balance in plants. The apparatus is left
under bright light for an hour.

The initial and final positions of the air bubble and weights of the apparatus are listed in the
following table.

Initial reading Final reading

Position of air bubble (cm) 5.8 47.8
Weight of apparatus (g) 868 866.3

-6-
Chapter Test 10　Transpiration, transport and support in plants

a Give two precautions in setting up the apparatus to ensure that no air bubbles except the one
shown in the diagram are introduced. (2 marks)

b Calculate the following and show your working. (1 cm3 of water weighs 1 g)
i Amount of water absorbed by the leafy shoot (2 marks)

ii Amount of water lost by the leafy shoot (2 marks)

iii Amount of water retained by the leafy shoot (2 marks)

c Predict with reasons how the distance moved by the air bubble would change if the experiment
is repeated in darkness. (3 marks)

-7-
Chapter Test 10　Transpiration, transport and support in plants

2 The arrow in the diagram below shows a pathway by which water enters the root of a plant.

a Name the force which draws water up the vessel made up of cell P. (1 mark)

b Explain how cell P is structurally adapted to the transport of water. (4 marks)

c Using the letters in the diagram, describe how the force answered in a helps in the absorption
of water by the root. (4 marks)

Higher order thinking question

C
(5 marks)

3 The following set-ups are used in an experiment to determine the rate of transpiration in plants. A
plant adapted to live in a moist environment is put in set-up X. Dry calcium chloride in the U-tube
absorbs water vapour.

-8-
Chapter Test 10　Transpiration, transport and support in plants

The U-tube with its content in each set-up is weighed at the beginning of the experiment and one
hour later. The table below shows the results.

Weight of U-tube with its content (g)

Set-up
At the beginning After one hour
X 120 138
Y 120 126

a Why is the pot in set-up X wrapped in a plastic bag? (1 mark)

b Calculate the rate of transpiration of the potted plant. Express your answer in g min –1 and show
your working. (2 marks)

-9-
Chapter Test 10　Transpiration, transport and support in plants

c The above experiment is repeated with a plant adapted to live in a dry environment. How
would the rate of transpiration be different? Explain your answer. (2 marks)

~ End ~

- 10 -
Chapter test Answers

Biology Test: Chapter 10 (Transpiration, transport and support in plants)

plants)

Suggested answer

A Multiple-choice questions
1 C 2 C 3 A 4 D 5 C
6 C 7 A 8 B 9 D 10 C

B Conventional questions
1 a Cut the leafy shoot under water. /
While the leafy shoot is still under water, attach it to the stopper of the bubble potometer. /
Seal off all connections with vaseline. (any 2) 1×2
b i (47.8 – 5.8) × 0.05 cm3 = 2.1 cm3 1×2
ii (868 – 866.3) g = 1.7 g = 1.7 cm 3
1×2
iii (2.1 – 1.7) cm3 = 0.4 cm3 1×2
c The distance would be shorter. 1
In darkness, the stomata are closed. 1
The rate of transpiration is low. 1
2 a Transpiration pull 1
b The cell wall of cell P is thick and lignified. 1
This prevents the vessel made up of cell P from collapsing when a negative pressure is
created during transpiration. 1
Cell P is hollow / has no cytoplasm / nuclei / end walls. 1
This offers less resistance to the transport of water. 1
c As the transpiration pull draws water up the vessel, water is drawn into cell P from the
neighbouring cells by osmosis. 1
This decreases the water potential of cell Q and water moves from the neighbouring
cell R to cell Q by osmosis. 1
As a result, a water potential gradient is set up across cells Q, R and S and water moves
inwards from cell to cell by osmosis. 1
Finally, the water potential of cell T becomes lower than that of the water in the soil and
water in the soil enters cell T by osmosis. 1

C Higher order thinking question

3 a To prevent the respiration of soil organisms and the evaporation of soil water from
affecting the results. 1
b [(138 – 120) – (126 – 120)] g / 60 min 1
= 0.2 g min –1
1

- 11 -
Chapter test Answers

c The rate of transpiration would decrease. 1

Plants adapted to live in a dry environment usually have adaptations (e.g. reduced leaf
surface area, lower stomatal density, thicker cuticle, etc.) to minimize water loss through
transpiration. 1

- 12 -